Mycotoxin awareness amongst traders and farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by microfungi that are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. The present work is a preliminary study focused on mycotoxin awareness amongst traders and farmers in some local government areas of Ekiti State. A questionnaire on mycotoxin awareness was distributed to two hundred respondents in each of the four local government areas visited. Simple percentages were used to analyse data collected. The data obtained showed that in Ekiti State Nigeria, the people are ignorant of mycotoxins produced by moulds but are aware of the existence of fungi. The general finding was that the people consumed some foods with mould growth so long as the taste did not change. In view of the data obtained, it is hereby suggested that studies should be carried out to ascertain the mycotoxin content of food and feedstuff in these areas. It was concluded that an intensive effort towards awareness is necessary at the grass root level in order to inform the public and as such reduce the incidence of mycotoxins in food and feed stuff and subsequent transfer to man.